New Species:Carnivorous snails Of Thailand

Scientists from Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok and the Natural History Museum, London discovered three new species of carnivorous snails in northern Thailand. The new snail species — named Perrottetia aquilonaria, P. dermapyrrhosa and P. phuphamanesis — were collected during surveys throughout Thailand between 2008 and 2012 and are described in the open access journal Zookeys. Identified by their genital organs and shell characteristics, these are the first snails in their genus Perrottetia to be described in over a century.

The snails belong to the family Streptaxidae which is a terrestrial carnivorous group of snails known to feed on insect larvae, earthworms, and even other snails. These tiny snails less than 1 centimeter in size are found living within rock crevices, endemic to a single or few limestone mountain ranges in north and north-eastern Thailand, adopting a “one hill one species” endemism.

The beautiful bright orange-colored Perrottetia dermapyrrhosa, one of the newly described species from Thailand. Photo by: Somsak Panha.

The discovery of these snails, surviving in such harsh conditions, shows us that “there are still remnants of some fundamental ecosystem” in these overly exploited areas, according to the paper.”The three new Perrottetia species exhibit distinct morphological characteristics, which make for a great example for evolutionary studies in unstable environments,” explains co-author Somsak Panha in a press release.Read more at http://news.mongabay.com/2013/0523-smith-new-snails.html#qZ7bmxScUAhM5lQZ.99

The discovery of these snails, surviving in such harsh conditions, shows us that “there are still remnants of some fundamental ecosystem” in these overly exploited areas, according to the paper.”The three new Perrottetia species exhibit distinct morphological characteristics, which make for a great example for evolutionary studies in unstable environments,” explains co-author Somsak Panha in a press release.

Perrottetia aquilonaria, one of the newly described species. Photo by: Somsak Panha.